Academic programs
Every LCU program is explicitly Christian, ministry-centered, and designed for online learners who need serious formation without stepping away from work, family, church, or mission.
Undergraduate
For students beginning or completing their first ministry-focused degree.
Bachelor's degrees - 120 credits
Future ministry leaders and Bible teachers
Foundational Bible, theology, and ministry training with tracks in pastoral ministry, church planting, youth and family, missions, worship, and digital ministry.
Build a biblical and theological foundation for ministry, teaching, missions, or graduate study.
Emerging pastors and church leaders
Comprehensive preparation for the pastorate through biblical preaching, pastoral care, evangelism, leadership, and church operations.
Prepare for preaching, shepherding, evangelism, leadership, and church operations.
Children, youth, and family ministry leaders
Equips leaders to disciple children and partner with families through safe, developmentally grounded ministry.
Lead safe, developmentally grounded discipleship ministries for children and families.
Pastoral care and faith-based support leaders
Pastoral, ministry-context care rooted in Scripture, preparing graduates for church and faith-based care roles.
Serve in church and faith-based care roles with biblical wisdom and referral ethics.
Christian educators and discipleship leaders
Faith-based teaching, curriculum, and program leadership for churches and Christian schools.
Design and lead teaching ministries for churches, schools, and discipleship settings.
Ministry administrators and nonprofit builders
Governance, finance, fundraising, and program design for Christian nonprofits and ministries.
Lead Christian organizations with skill in governance, finance, fundraising, and program design.
Graduate
For leaders who want deeper theological formation and practical ministry preparation.
Master's degrees - 36-90 credits
Pastors, chaplains, and senior ministry leaders
The gold standard for pastoral leadership, with concentrations in pastoral ministry, church planting, worship, missions, and chaplaincy.
Deepen theological, pastoral, and leadership preparation for long-term ministry.
Church staff and ministry directors
Organizational leadership, administration, and ministry practice for church staff and ministry leaders.
Strengthen ministry leadership, administration, operations, and organizational stewardship.
Missionaries and church planters
Cross-cultural strategy, field methods, and movement dynamics for reaching unreached people groups.
Prepare for cross-cultural mission strategy, contextual engagement, and field leadership.
Pastors and faith-based care leaders
Advanced pastoral care for church-based and faith-based organizational roles, with an emphasis on referral ethics.
Offer advanced pastoral care with biblical depth, ethical boundaries, and referral wisdom.
Marriage, family, and discipleship ministry leaders
Marriage and family ministry training for pastors and lay leaders, from premarital mentoring to family discipleship.
Serve couples and families through pastoral ministry, mentoring, and family discipleship.
Experienced children and family ministry leaders
Advanced children's and intergenerational ministry leadership, methods, and family partnership.
Advance intergenerational ministry leadership, teaching strategy, and family partnership.
Doctoral
For experienced leaders and scholars pursuing advanced ministry practice or research.
Doctoral degrees - 30-60 credits plus project or dissertation
Seasoned pastors and ministry executives
Advanced, practical training for seasoned leaders, with tracks in preaching, revitalization, pastoral care, and organizational change.
Lead complex ministry contexts through applied scholarship, care, and organizational change.
Mission scholars and senior field strategists
Research-level preparation in mission theology, history, strategy, and contextualization.
Contribute research in mission theology, history, strategy, and contextualization.
Christian counseling researchers and ministry educators
Doctoral research in Christian counseling across marriage, family, and child and adolescent contexts.
Develop ministry-focused research for marriage, family, and child and adolescent contexts.
Stackable credentials
Certificates and micro-credentials help students strengthen a focused ministry skill while exploring a longer degree path.
Foundations for launching and strengthening new ministry communities.
Practical training for online outreach, teaching, and ministry communication.
Biblical, pastoral, and practical preparation for worship ministry.
A fuller credential for worship leaders serving in local-church contexts.
Governance, operations, and stewardship for ministry organizations.
Ministry-focused care, listening, referral ethics, and spiritual support.
Foundations for safe, biblical, and age-aware discipleship of children.
Need help choosing?
Share your ministry goals, transfer credits, schedule, and budget questions. We will help you compare options before you apply.
